Father (Grassley) knows best

Prior to the vote on the Great American Sellout Bill, I contacted Senator Grassley- strongly urging (begging!) him to NOT vote for bill. It was with great disappointment that I learned that Grassley did, in fact, vote for it. Needless to say, it was a huge disappointment for me that Grassley would be so easily taken in to heap more debt on Americans.

Recently I received what I can only describe as a Father Knows Best letter from Senator Grassley. The entire front page is devoted to explaining why he voted for  the Department of Treasury’s financial rescue plan. Grassley’s name for the bill and mine are different and he got to vote. I was only allowed to voice my opposition.  A main point for Grassley supporting the “rescue plan”…”This legislation will be a major shot in the arm to the small businesses struggling to recover, meet payroll and keep their doors open and to communities working to rebuild infrastructure and go forward.”

A shot in the arm for businesses or a kick in the behind for tax payers?

A shot in the arm for the greedy and the powerful or another nail in the coffin for Americans who are already have the honor of paying taxes?

The final paragraph of Grassley’s letter is interesting:

“I hope you will read the statement I gave during consideration of the rescue package to understand how I voted. You can bet that this Senator will work to make sure that your hard earned money is not wasted or mismanaged, and that executives don’t take advantage of the help we give them. Thanks for letting me know your thoughts. Please keep in touch. Sincerely, Chuck”.

Enclosed in the letter was a four page section of the “Congressional Record-Senate”, in which Senator Grassley outlines his reasons for going against the wishes of Iowans and voting for the bail out/financial rescue plan.

So, Grassley sided with Harkin, both to vote “yes”. The vote is done, the bail out is passed. Both father figure Senators cast their votes inspite of what Iowa taxpayers had to say.

The problem now is that voters like me have very little, if any, faith that those in power in Washington, D.C. will do anything different than they did before. The power, the greed, the good ole boys system will still be in place.  Pelosi, Reid, Dodd, Frank and a whole bunch of other Democrats are just drooling at the chance to give out more money and have their way with the American taxpayers. After all, it is “unAmerican” to not vote the way Pelosi and Company say to vote.

While I appreciate that in my first attempt to contact a Senator I did receive a written response, it continues to be disturbing that Republican Grassley would side with Democrat Harkin. I don’t expect much from Harkin as he fits right in with his Liberal, Democrat crowd. I did expect more from Senator Grassley. I learned a lot from the Great American Sellout Vote: Iowa “Father Grassley” and Iowa “Father Harkin” think that they know best for Iowans.

Both Harkin and Grassley have been in D.C. too long. At least this year Iowans have a great opportunity to keep one Senator home- you know, the one that lives in Cummings, Iowa. It is time to send a new and gutsy candidate to Washinton. Christopher Reed. If Reed could stand up to Harkin in a 2 against 1 debate, I am betting that Reed could stand up to the Pelosi gang!

Father Knows Best might have been a good, family TV show, but Reed takes on Washington sounds even better!